Michael Perry, who led the Apaches in scoring with 13 points, scored a basket and added a 3-pointer to give Pottsville a 7-4 lead with 5:51 left in the first period. That was as close as Pocahontas (19-12) would get the rest of the night.

The Redskins got within 9-6, but Luke McAnulty nailed a 3-pointer with 4:12 left that forced a Pocahontas time out. The Apaches went on to outscore the Redskins 9-3 to end the first period on top 21-9.

Perry started the second period with a jumper and ensuing free throw to make it 24-9. Pocahontas hit 3-of-4 at the foul line, but Chris Albin answered with three straight baskets, and his last one with five seconds showing set the halftime score at 35-19.

The Redskins pulled within 45-34 late in the third quarter and ended the period trailing 47-36. But Pottsville continued to increase its margin at the charity stripe. McKown scored a traditional three-point play to make it 57-39 late in the fourth quarter, then McAnulty hit a pair of free throws to seal the Apaches’ win and a berth in the 4A state championship game.

The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) will release the schedule of this week’s high school basketball championship games. Check Tuesday’s edition of The Courier for more details.

5A State Tournament

Jacksonville SB 52, Clarksville 44

PINE BLUFF — The Jacksonville Red Devils won Saturday night’s battle of top-seeded teams in the 5A state semifinals with a 52-44 verdict over the Clarksville Panthers, who reached the state tournament semifinals for the third straight year.

Clarksville (27-4) was seeking its third straight championship after winning the last two 4A titles. But the Panthers couldn’t overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

Jacksonville (24-4) will play Alma for the 5A state championship this week. Clarksville defeated Alma twice in 5A-West Conference play during the regular season en route to an undefeated conference record.

The Red Devils started the game with a 3-pointer and went on to 14-6 lead. But Clarksville responded with a 12-4 scoring run and regained the lead in the second quarter on baskets by senior Dederick Lee and junior Jerren Thompson (22-21).

Clarksville led 25-22 until Jacksonville tied it with another 3-pointer, and the teams went into the locker room tied 27-27.

Dederick Lee’s traditional three-point play tied the score again, 30-30, midway through the third quarter, but the Panthers were held to just two more points in the period as the Red Devils took a 38-32 lead into the fourth quarter.

Trailing 44-34, Dederick Lee drilled a 3-pointer, then junior Freddy Lee hit a pair of free throws to make it 44-39 with 5:13 remaining. Clarksville’s pressure defense was doing its job, then Thompson hit a layup to bring the Panthers within 44-41 with 4:40 showing.

Clarksville senior Deven Simms put a shot off the glass and in, and hit the ensuing free throw to make the score 45-44 with 2:13 to go. But that’s as close as the Panthers would get, as Jacksonville answered with a 17-footer at the 1:54 mark and a inside basket and free throw with 1:11 to go. Free throws set the final score for the Red Devils, who held Clarksville to 27 points in the second half.

Dederick Lee led the Panthers with 12 points, followed by Simms with 10, Freddy Lee with nine, Thompson with eight and Kenderick Lee with five.